Just north of Santa Barbara, my diner lunch reservation came up. We were riding along the coast, speeding along the cliffs overlooking the Pacific. As a single passenger I took a book to the diner, in case I got stuck seated with an uncommunicative geek or geeks. It happens.
I was seated alone (another reason to take a book), when a couple came along and were about to be seated next to me. The guy argued heavily that he did not want to sit with me, and that he wanted his own table. The Amtrak people explained that it doesn't work that way, and asked him to sit down. He finally did. The woman he was with turned out to be the guy's daughter, and she was very sweet. I apologized for them having to sit with me for lunch. Not my decision.
Then, against all odds, we struck up a very cool conversation. The man was from Jamaica, a citizen, and we shared similar political views. We all ordered the burgers, had a great time, and I shared points of interest as we went along, having been on the Starlight many times.
After the meal, as the train was around Vandenberg AFB, we shook hands and parted. He didn't tip. I always do.
I have a question for the forum:
What do you do when you see somebody not tip? There was nothing wrong with the service. The guy and his daughter were from coach, so maybe couldn't afford it. What to do? I felt the service was tipworthy, so here's what I did: Left my tip clearly on my side of the table, hoping it wouldn't be confused with the failure to tip. I just don't know.
I was seated alone (another reason to take a book), when a couple came along and were about to be seated next to me. The guy argued heavily that he did not want to sit with me, and that he wanted his own table. The Amtrak people explained that it doesn't work that way, and asked him to sit down. He finally did. The woman he was with turned out to be the guy's daughter, and she was very sweet. I apologized for them having to sit with me for lunch. Not my decision.
Then, against all odds, we struck up a very cool conversation. The man was from Jamaica, a citizen, and we shared similar political views. We all ordered the burgers, had a great time, and I shared points of interest as we went along, having been on the Starlight many times.
After the meal, as the train was around Vandenberg AFB, we shook hands and parted. He didn't tip. I always do.
I have a question for the forum:
What do you do when you see somebody not tip? There was nothing wrong with the service. The guy and his daughter were from coach, so maybe couldn't afford it. What to do? I felt the service was tipworthy, so here's what I did: Left my tip clearly on my side of the table, hoping it wouldn't be confused with the failure to tip. I just don't know.
